The deeply troubled state of the European Union was on full display in Strasbourg on Tuesday as senior EU officials lambasted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for trampling democratic freedoms and undermining fundamental rights. Orbán fired back, accusing the guardians of the EU treaties of hypocrisy, abuse of power, and violating Hungary's national sovereignty.

Critics of Orbán, who has used vicious anti-immigrant rhetoric to fuel his popularity and has his country in an ever-tightening authoritarian grip, said efforts by Brussels to bring him to account were long overdue.

But the spectacle of prominent EU officials trading vicious barbs with one of the bloc's most powerful and successful national leaders was ugly, and it exposed a ragged and widening chasm between East and West. Such clear evidence of that gap will make any effort by Juncker to celebrate European unity in his speech on Wednesday morning seem like the whimpers of an exhausted hiker lost in a canyon.

Beyond casting a shadow over Juncker’s speech, the escalating battle with Orbán threatens to complicate upcoming EU debates on a wide range of important issues, particularly the bloc’s next long-term budget.

The fight also effectively vaporizes the already dim prospects that EU leaders might find any new common ground on migration at an upcoming informal summit in Salzburg, Austria. Orbán has long positioned himself as the biggest obstacle to any effort to draw up a new common asylum policy beyond tightening border controls.

The debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday, over whether to initiate Article 7 disciplinary proceedings against Hungary, was not civil. It opened with Judith Sargentini, a Dutch MEP leading the Article 7 effort, chastizing Orbán for arriving a few moments after she had begun her opening statement.

"I wanted to shake hands," Sargentini said in a cutting tone, "but he turned up late for the debate." MEPs groaned.

The session ended with Orbán taking aim at some of his harshest critics. "Mr. Verhofstadt," he said, referring to Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister who is now leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. "He is no longer in the chamber but it seems that you love Europe, but you actually hate Christian Democrats."

At another point, Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans digressed from his impassioned speech in support of EU fundamental values to take a sharp dig at Orbán for repeatedly proclaiming himself a champion of "Christian Europe" but allegedly denying food to refugees.

"Member states have to ensure that the basic needs of persons in transit zones are covered and they are treated in a humane and dignified manner — this includes providing food to asylum-seekers staying in border zones," Timmermans said. "I would say that this is the humane, or should I say the Christian way to do things."

Losing allies

The Parliament will vote on Wednesday, shortly after Juncker's State of the Union speech, on whether to initiate the Article 7 proceeding, which theoretically could lead to the suspension of Hungary's voting rights in the EU. Even some major leaders of Orbán's political family, the center-right European People's Party (EPP), said they would vote in favor of Article 7.

Manfred Weber, the leader of the EPP group in Parliament, who has declared himself a candidate for Commission president in next year's European election, said he would vote in favor, noting that he detected no "readiness" for compromise on the part of Orbán, whom he has counted on as a political ally in the past.

"I think we have had enough dialogue," Weber said after a meeting in which EPP leaders decided to postpone a decision on taking their own action — possibly suspending or expelling Orbán's party, Fidesz.

Even Joseph Daul, the president of the EPP who makes few public pronouncements, weighed in Tuesday on Twitter, with implicit criticism of Orbán and Fidesz.

The European Union is based on #freedom, democracy, equality, academic liberty, #RuleOfLaw, respect for human rights & a free civil society. These are inviolable values @EPP will not compromise irrespective of political affiliation.

In reality, the Article 7 process — even if supported by the required two-thirds of Parliament — stands no chance of success. To suspend Hungary's voting rights would require a unanimous vote by all other EU nations. Poland is facing its own Article 7 proceeding over changes to its judicial system that the Commission says have undermined the rule-of-law and violated EU rules.

Budapest, anticipating its own fight with Brussels, has vowed to block action against Warsaw, and the two nations have essentially reached a mutual defense pact, which critics have derided as an "unholy alliance."

Orbán, who has been prime minister of Hungary for 12 of the last 20 years, and won re-election in April with an overwhelming majority, not only stood his ground in Parliament on Tuesday, but lashed back viciously at his critics.

Many officials in Brussels and throughout Europe are genuinely outraged at the rise of authoritarianism in Hungary, as well as allegations of anti-Semitism, discrimination against Roma, and corruption in the use of EU funds. MEPs will vote Wednesday on a report drafted by Dutch Green MEP Judith Sargentini, which highlights these concerns.

But Orbán accused his detractors of trying to punish Hungarians for the country's unwillingness to support EU migration policies, and for taking a more conservative approach to what Orbán calls "Christian European" values.

"Hungary’s decisions are made by the voters in parliamentary elections," Orbán thundered. "What you are claiming is no less than saying that the Hungarian people are not sufficiently capable of being trusted to judge what is in their own interests. You think that you know the needs of the Hungarian people better than the Hungarian people themselves. Therefore I must say to you that this report does not show respect for the Hungarian people. This report applies double standards, it is an abuse of power, it oversteps the limits on spheres of competence, and the method of its adoption is a treaty violation."

Recognizing that he would almost certainly lose the vote, Orbán was clearly playing to his base. "Every nation and member state has the right to decide on how to organize its life in its own country," he said. "We shall defend our borders, and we alone shall decide who we want to live with." Chiding his critics, he said: "I know that you have already formed your opinions."

At a news conference later, he accused his opponents of taking orders from Berlin, a reference to German Chancellor Angela Merkel with whom Orbán has clashed over migration policy.

Timmermans, speaking for the Commission, said Hungary had been accused of misusing EU funds more than any other member country, and he denounced the government's suppression of basic freedoms.

"Democracy in our member states, in our European Union, cannot exist without the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights," Timmermans said, adding, "Sadly, the Commission shares the concerns expressed in the report in particular as regards fundamental rights, corruption, the treatment of Roma and the independence of the judiciary. As regards fundamental rights, the report highlights important issues relating to civil society, academic freedom and media pluralism, which are crucial for the good functioning of democracy."

It was the sort of lecture that might normally be reserved for Russia, China or Iran. Instead, it was directed at Orbán — an EU leader whose job approval rating, according to a poll last spring, stood at 59 percent among "decided voters" — far higher than Merkel's governing coalition, which recently polled at under 30 percent approval, or French President Emmanuel Macron at 34 percent.

But while Orbán sought to portray himself and Hungary as avidly pro-European, his argument was not necessarily helped by Nigel Farage, the British MEP and pugnacious Brexiteer, who jumped to the Hungarian's defense in Tuesday's debate.

“Thank God there is at least one European leader prepared to stand up for his principles, his nation, his culture and his people, in the face of such extreme bullying,” Farage said.

Warning to the rising right

Still, as ugly as the EU's divisions might be, some officials said that a display of solidarity against Orbán among a large majority of the bloc — especially prominent members of the EPP like Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz — would send a powerful message to other right-wing, would-be troublemakers, including Italy's Matteo Salvini.

That message may also prove particularly important in so-called net-contributor countries like the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria — which pay more money into the EU budget than they get back — and where there is rising discontent over breaches of EU norms and values by countries like Hungary and Poland that benefit heavily from EU funds.

"We can no longer stand by and watch the Hungarian government destroy fundamental freedoms," Petra Kammerevert, a German MEP and chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and Education, said.

mark ust

The EU really is going to turn into a nightmarish edifice – a grim bureaucracy pushing evil and degenerate Political Correctness dogma onto unwilling people, as the continent becomes a transit camp for Africans and Muslims. How disgusting.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 12:17 AM CET

Istvan Kovacs

What a sad turn out of events. EU ignoring the voting base of Hungarian citizens, who put Orban in power, based on the reality of recent events from the ‘religion of peace’. Today is the day of the Libtard fúckfest. (Lili Bayer & Co). Tomorrow is another day. Party on Soros money. I am certain Weber will.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 12:46 AM CET

M LB

“bloc’s most powerful and successful national leaders was ugly”
Ehh does he mean Orban?
Because he is not successful or Powerful, yes he is the Democratic leader of Hungary.
But that doesn’t make him Powerful in EU regime.
Maybe we should just leave Hungary and Poland to themselves.
There are no defense for their Authoritarian laws. And are trying to undermine Democracy and the Rule of Law.
Fine if that is what Hungary wants, then the door is right there.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 12:55 AM CET

M LB

@Istvan Kovacs
What are the obsession about that guy Soro’s?
I don’t know who he is.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 12:56 AM CET

Walter E. Kurtz

To sum it up – no cleaning needed in the EP’s Strassbourg building tonight because Orban already wiped the floor with his opponents. The spots on the floor are what remained of the European Union’s credibility. I just don’t know who the bigger loser is, Weber or Juncker. Weber proved utterly out of his depths in this fight over the EPP’s soul and Juncker’s big SOTEU show was stolen before he delivered it. Luckily for them, Orban ultimately chickened out and didn’t use this opportunity to accept the role of the emerging new Conservatives figurehead. Maybe he will if the EPP eventually stabs him in the back but today would have been a historical moment to show his finger to the EPP and announce the creation of a new anti-immigration, anti-EU but pro-European bloc. What would he have to lose after all?

Posted on 9/12/18 | 1:31 AM CET

Walter E. Kurtz

@M LB “What are the obsession about that guy Soro’s? I don’t know who he is.” – in which case I advise you to comment funny cat videos on Youtube and leave Politico alone.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 1:42 AM CET

Hal Owen

@M LB

You said:

‘There are no defense for their Authoritarian laws. And are trying to undermine Democracy and the Rule of Law.’

Funny, but to me that sums up the EU!

Posted on 9/12/18 | 5:01 AM CET

Iron Worker

“Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz…” This is one of the many reasons this EU will not survive. Hypocrisy pushed to biblical proportions.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 6:23 AM CET

Observer Hu

The article mentions and many comments tote Orban’s “overwhelming victory”, him being “the democtratically elected leader” and “the will of the Hu voters” – all way off the mark:
– the heavily rigged election system introduced by the same Mr. Orbán delivered 67% seats supermajority with 43% of the casted vote already in 2014.
– 95% of the print media is gov controlled/financed, ditto for broadcasting where only two TV channels RTL National) and a single radio station (only in Budapest) critical to the regime and a couple of websites (big Origo was acquired and turned into another gov propaganda outlet last year).
– the budget of the state media was doubled by the orban gov and it was turned into a party propaganda outlet,
– election campaign restrictions reduced drastically advertising
– existential intimidation and vote buying was widespread outside the big cities,
– huge voting anomalies, servers “breakdown” and inconsistent numbers indicate substantial election fraud, etc.
This is how “elections” are won also in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Putin’s Russia, etc.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 6:32 AM CET

glasspix 1

Orban is smart, he had made the EU elite show their own colours and to explicitly take a stand against policies that are now demanded by most European citizens. The Socialists, the Liberals, even the EPP, have come out of this debate as a force hostile to national sovereignty, the enemies of Europe’s Christian values and identity, and completely unrepentant of the tragedies that their migration policies have caused across the continent since 2015.
The Soros/Bertelsmann lying press is just too happy to endorse this political insanity as we can see above.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 6:33 AM CET

r s

Funny how Orban’s supporters speak only about immigration leaving, antisemitism, frauds in spending EU funds and curbing the free press, aside.
In some of the post you can find idea that Hungarians elected him. Fine, but at the same time EU is a club with certain rules, which have form of signed treaties, if you break them you are nobody but a democratically elected leader who is breaking treaties. What is so difficult about it?

Posted on 9/12/18 | 7:36 AM CET

EU doublestandards

@r s
“EU is a club with certain rules, which have form of signed treaties, if you break them you are nobody but a democratically elected leader who is breaking treaties”.

Oh really? Would you like to know how many rules Merkel unilaterally broke all by herself when she instigated this whole migration fiasco in the first place? One rule for her and her cronies and one rule for everyone else – as usual.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 8:58 AM CET

Johann M. Wolff

@r s

Because I care about immigration. Because in the past the chancellor I voted for said that “multiculturalism failed in Germany”, ergo if you wanna stay here you have to assimilate. This drastically changed since 2015 and I am one of the fouls paying for it.

I don’t care about other aspects in Hungary since the economy is running well, German companies are investing there (see BMW, and expansion of Audi and Mercedes plats) and when I’m in Budapest (or Prague) I can freely walk on the streets without a pack of Arab teenagers going to harass my GF.

BTW, do you have any idea how many proceedings are in place against Germany due to breach of certain EU rules ?

But of course Red-Greens are going after those who are against multikulti.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 9:08 AM CET

Jo Docus

EU bashers are in splendid form again. The EU standing up to autocrats that abuse their position to stifle democracy and freedom of expression is smeared and slagged.

I personally believe we are either seeing trolls in action. Perhaps employed by Mr. Putin.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 9:09 AM CET

Johann M. Wolff

@Jo Docus

On how many elections should we go through in order for you to realize that these (most of them) are not trolls, just different opinions than in your bubble.

In no way am I against the EU, I am against red-green (and their policy) which I perceive that exercise way larger influence than their support (translated into votes) and this is partially becasue of the media, like ZDF, DW (which are financed by public funds but have a chief editor from the far-left TAZ).

Posted on 9/12/18 | 10:01 AM CET

Deplor Ables

@ Jo Docus

The fact that you have to imagine that there are “trolls in action perhaps employed by Mr. Putin” leads me to think that you are probably underesting the disaffection and disappointment towards EU spread throughout much of the European population, which is also expressed (more or less proportionally) through the comments on this article.

After decades of life, the european parliament has recourse for the first time to the “nuclear option” of art. 7: for me, this is a demonstration of weakness of the european institutions, which will bear the painful scars of this affair for a long time.

Finally, that the mediation proposed by Weber to Orban consisted in withdrawing from the legislation on NGOs in Hungary and on C.E.U. in Budapest (that is, evidently, the interests of Soros) speaks volumes about “ideality”, “values” and “principles” supported by EU on this occasion.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 10:37 AM CET

Deplor Ables

errata corrige: is “underestimating” in the second line, not “underesting”.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 10:42 AM CET

e c

It seems EUrocrats try to enforce unanimity and one way of thinking against citizens will, in USSR or III Reich style. So no wonder German bureaucrats are so vocal again about it, and are in so good relations with Putin (e.g. Nordstream and Nordstream 2) at the same time.

How good that US occupation forces are still present in Germany.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 10:46 AM CET

maciek maciek

Isn’t diverisity one of core EU values?
Must all Europeans and European politicians be left-libs?
Aren’t left-libs leading EU into totalitarian reality?

Posted on 9/12/18 | 10:47 AM CET

contango one

RE: trolls of putin’s or of other sinister forces that liberals of all persuasions invoke constantly in trying to explain the opposition to immigration; all of this is perfectly in line with totalitarian/commie thinking n long term policy:

when reality doesn’t fit our narrative, then its the reality’s fault
so we invent and try to impose another reality that does
problem solved

and then all problems solved
and then we had many accumulated realities over the many years of problem solving

and then x-mas of 1991 happened

Posted on 9/12/18 | 10:59 AM CET

Marinus Huizer

The EU should consider streamlining the membership. To put things in proper perspective: the combined economies of the Visegrad states (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) are smaller than Italy’s (another candidate for streamlining) yet these countries consume a large part of EU funds. Ideally the EU should consist of countries with similar values and international outlooks. The original EU states welcomed the Nordics and Iberians (after losing authoritarian regimes) accepted the former Soviet dependencies under UK and US pressure in the expectation that there would be both an increase in economic viability and more democracy. In reality the economies in those countries continue to be problematic and highly dependent on the rest of the EU for subsidies, capital and employment. Meanwhile their politicians have the nerve to roll back democratic institutions. Losing England is OK, they were never proper members. Losing the Visegrads (and spending the savings on improving Romania and Bulgaria until they show the same symptoms) should be a priority task for the next Commission.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 11:08 AM CET

Marinus Huizer

Many commenters here seem to represent the tiny fraction of EU citizens (if they are EU citizens at all) who do not understand the benefits of living in a large, free trade area. Such a trade area requires good institutions. The original members of the EU accepted the Visegrad countries who seem to becaome less democratically governed by the day, in the expectation that they would improve (especially after spending many decades as virtual Soviet colonies). Maybe that is not happening and they should leave, or at least lose the right to be subsidized by Western European taxpayers. That would not make the EU weaker, but stronger. Trading with authoritarians is OK but keep them outside the city walls.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 11:16 AM CET

contango one

@ Marinus

the disagreements are not about trade; everyone agrees with and supports free trade n free movement of people goods n services within the union mr Huizer

the emerging divisions are about uncontrolled reception of moslems from mid east n north africa a culture at odds at best and often at war with the west during the past millenium n a half

Posted on 9/12/18 | 11:30 AM CET

Ghost of JB

@Marinus Huizer

“Losing England is OK, they were never proper members. Losing the Visegrads (and spending the savings on improving Romania and Bulgaria until they show the same symptoms) should be a priority task for the next Commission”

Nice, I can almost hear the marching boots…. So much for democracy, respect for others’ opinions, pluralism… No, we don’t need any of that backchat! Did you honestly believe that you could control the world and what everyone thinks?

Personally, I’m glad the UK is leaving this awful organisation, to misquote Groucho Marx, I wouldn’t want to be a member of any club that would accept you as a member.

“the tiny fraction of EU citizens … who do not understand the benefits of living in a large, free trade area”

Where to start? It’s not a tiny fraction, it’s an ever growing number and the proof of that will come in April. Perhaps you haven’t been reading Politico lately?

Secondly, the EU is NOT a free trade area, it is a protectionist zone where inefficient farmers and industries are protected against the world’s suppliers because they can’t compete. This is why there are no European internet giants, it’s called e inefficient use of capital in economic is terms, and it means that the EU protects its industries from competition and so they become ever less competitive and bad companies that should be replaced by new, innovative companies limp on.

The single market and customs union is a recipe for decline, relative and absolute.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 11:37 AM CET

GE0RG1 G10RG1

GE0RG1 … CHECK CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CEU STUDENTS AND ALUMNI, PROFESSORS , MANY OF WHOM ARE CIA AGENTS FROM THE TIME IN CEU. CHECK IF SOME STUDENTS FROM CEU DISAPPEARED STRANGELY IF THEY HAVEN’T ACCEPTED. ORBAN FROM CEU IS PLAYING THEATER TO SEND THE UNIVERSITY AWAY FROM HUNGARY , BABIC IS ALSO CLOSE TO EU , BASICALLY HUNGARY , POLAND , CZECH , OTHER CEE , BALKANS , BALTIC GOVERNMENTS ARE AGENTS TO USA AND EU WITH MIND CONTROL AND SECRET SOCIETIES ON TELECOMS NETWORKS AND TETRA NET. WHY AFTER ELECTIONS WON AGAINST EU , POLITICIANS FROM GREECE, HUNGARY , CZECH , POLAND , ITALY TURN THEIR POSITION TOWARDS EU? ARE THEY CONTROLLED BY GERMANY , FRANCE ? . LOOKS LIKE ITALIAN ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE MANIPULATED TO KEEP EU SOMEHOW EXISTING , EVEN CLOSED ECONOMIST COMMENTS TODAY FOR COMPLETE VOICE SILENCE. OBSERVE FOR INCIDENTS IN ITALY , SPAIN , PORTUGAL , GREECE AS TARGET 2 DIFFICULT DEBT HOLDERS OF GERMANY. PUBLIC ATTENTION ON CATASTROPHES , POLITICIAN FAMILY INCIDENTS TO PRESERVE DEMOCRACY. THINK WHAT MENTIONED COUNTRIES DEBT BECOMES WITH TARGET 2 DEBTS , MAINLY FROM GERMANY 0.91 TRILLIONS TO SUBSTITUTE LEAVING DEPOSITS. BIG NON GUARANTEED DEPOSITS IN IT , ES ,PT, GR , DE WILL LEAVE NOT PAY THE LOSS OF REFINANCING EXPENSIVELY BANKS. ONLY DEMOCRATIC NEW GOVERNMENTS IN DE , IT , ES CAN WIN BACK THE TRUST AND RETURN DEPOSITS IN BANKS FINANCED BY TARGET 2 , NOT CATASTROPHES AND FEAR IN GOVERNMENTS. IT IS PROBLEMATIC AS LEAVING EURO ZONE IS WINING IDEA , THAT HAS TO BE SMASHED SOMEHOW AND 5 STARS TO LOSE ELECTIONS AS DE , FR WISH PROBABLY. GERMANY SIMILAR TO FRANCE MAY PUT ALL POLITICAL SYSTEM BEHIND SINGLE GOVERNMENT VS THE POPULISTS TO STEAL SOME TIME BEFORE END OF EU. WITH HIGH DEBT IN EU AND USA, SIMILAR TO SERBIA SOME STATES CAN SEPARATE WITHOUT THE HUGE SOVEREIGN DEBT BURDEN , SEE CATALONIA AND SOMEHOW ITALY PROVINCES. HIGH SOVEREIGN DEBT IS HUGE RISK FOR UNIONS AS EU , USA TO STAY TOGETHER. COUNTRIES WITH OWN CURRENCY , ALSO COME BACK TO GROWTH AFTER SOVEREIGN DEBT DEFAULT YOU MAY CHECK FOR ESTABLISH FACT. SO IN EARLY MARCH ELECTIONS , ITALY WILL PROBABLY LEAVE EUROZONE TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC GROWTH , NOT TO SUFFER 10 YEARS AS GREECE. SO EU , USA MAY GAIN LESS DEBT AND OWN CURRENCY IF FALL APART AND KEEP ECONOMIC GROWTH IN COMING SECULAR RECESSION THAT MAKES POPULATION SKEPTICAL FOR ECONOMY OF UNIONS IN GALLUP SURVEY. AS ONE ARGENTINA FINANCIAL MINSTER SAYS IF YOU LEAVE ONE DOOR OF STABLE OPEN ALL HORSES ARE OUT MORNING. POLITICAL

Posted on 9/12/18 | 12:01 PM CET

GE0RG1 G10RG1

SYSTEMS GAMBLE IN USA EU , FR DE UK IT ES PUT COMPLETE POLITICAL SYSTEM VS POPULISTS AS NOBODY TRUST THE GOVERNMENTS TODAY SIMILAR TO JOHN LAW A FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER THAT CLAIMED THAT HIS COMPANY CONNECTED WITH THE COUNTRY HAS BUILD HUGE PROJECT IN THE FIELDS OF MISSISSIPPI , YELLEN , TRUMP, DRAGHI , JUNCKER BLUFF THERE IS VERY STRONG GROWTH IN US , EU. When revealed that there are no projects in Mississippi , John Law escapes from France where the share bubble ends. Many finance minsters in Europe had similar sad destiny, do you remember also how Ceausescu run and Milosevic was hidden in a kindergarden. the political situation in usa and eu is that many presidents and ministers , central banker are determined to be the worst ever. This is true for USA president and Yellen fed head from cnbc survey as the lowest grade chairman. The French president approval declined at lowest place compared to all recent presidents , with similar situation in UK , Germany , Italy Spain, ECB , EC. Many of them stay to be blamed when deposit rationing is imposed in EU and the share bubble ends in USA to steal your deposits and savings reciprocally in EU and USA. Many politicians are supported by several political parties that puts the complete current political systems against populists as in France example. wiki Populism is a mode of political communication that is based on contrasts between the “common man” or “the people” and a real or imagined group of “privileged elites”, traditionally scapegoating or making a folk devil of the latter. Populists can fall anywhere on the traditional left–right political spectrum of politics, and often portray both bourgeois capitalists and socialist organizers as unfairly dominating the political sphere. Populism is most common in democratic nations. Political scientist Cas Mudde wrote that ” that populism is inherent to representative democracy; after all, do populists not juxtapose ‘the pure people’ against ‘ corrupt elite. I DO NOT HAVE COPY RIGHTS SO DISTRIBUTE IN EU ON LINE EDITIONS CAREFULLY. ASK MERKEL , TRUMP , POWELL , DRAGHI IF THEY ARE RELATED TO THE FIRES IN GREECE FOR THEIR DEBTS , OR THE TRAIN CRASH IN TURKEY AT THE DAY ERDOGAN STEPS IN? DO THEY INTEND TO HARM BULGARIA FOR MY WRITINGS ?

Posted on 9/12/18 | 12:01 PM CET

Deplor Ables

@ Marinus Huizer

“The EU should consider streamlining the membership …”.

I’m sorry to have to announce to you that the current projects of the EU are marching in a direction exactly opposite to the one advocated by you.

In fact, there is a plan to get some Balkan states to join (is there a need to illustrate the political, economic and social conditions of Balkans?), and EU has never hidden its interests in Ukraine (for this latter, as you know, EU/US have even caused a coup d’état and a bloody war still ongoing).

Johann M. Wolff

Did you cracked the results of the past few national elections ?
Get out of your bubble.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 12:21 PM CET

Joanna Motheroff-Angels

Christian values are indispensable in order to push away musulmani@cs from our countries.
What ideology are you planning to employ in order to stop their march?
Democracy? hahaha They spit on democracy
Human rights? hahahaha They fart in your human rights general direction.
Only Christian values (and Czech atheism of course), may serve as a shield, and a sword at the same time, in this confrontation.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 1:25 PM CET

Istvan Kovacs

@M LB
@Istvan Kovacs
What are the obsession about that guy Soro’s?
I don’t know who he is.

He is not the person I or many Hungarians never voted for. Next target Poland.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 2:30 PM CET

G B

Of course Hungarian and Polish people can do whatever they want at home, they can even have dictatorship. But they should also understand that this means to be OUT of the EU common laws and eventually OUT OF THE EU. If they got in just to take the money, then they made a mistake. Maybe they should go back under Putin rule of law…

Posted on 9/12/18 | 2:52 PM CET

Donal O'Brien

Att Comment

Dear Comment

This so called DEBATE outlining to all in BRUSSELLS is nothing but a Farce all who oppose ORBAN and are Scapegoating him do so for there own BENIFET

Weber is trying to act statesman like which he finds difficult because he cannot carry what it takes or the ability to be a Statesman
He is one who is allways with the WIND no matter What direction

This whole European People’s Party is stuffed at the Top with what is to the BENIFET of Themselves a gathering of Weasles

No matter what one thinks of how ORBAN is Governing Hungary it is the Business of the People of Hungary
And ORBAN is right not to take Bu–s–t from an Administration who’s only concern is for its PROJECT/AGENDA

They as in BRUSSELLS where not elected not are they the representing the People of Hungary
There only concern is for there own Wealth @ Status

People of Europe wakeup

Cheers for Brexit
Allways
Donal O’Brien

Posted on 9/12/18 | 3:16 PM CET

Joe Peschi

“Many officials in Brussels and throughout Europe are genuinely outraged at the rise of authoritarianism in Hungary, as well as allegations of anti-Semitism, discrimination against Roma”

One of the few countries in the EU where a Jew can still wear a kippah in public is being condemned for antisemitism, by the followers of the same ideology which made Western Europe into a dangerous place for Jews wishing to display their identity in public. Talk about a deranged elite!

As for discrimination against the Roma minority? Hungary achieved a much higher employment, therefore integration rate than Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, so why is Hungary singled out on this issue? Do facts even matter anymore? That whole Sargentini report was a load of BS and EU’s elites just voted for it. Says a lot about them more than anything!

Posted on 9/12/18 | 5:28 PM CET

Darius Na

““I wanted to shake hands,” Sargentini said in a cutting tone…”. A prime minister of a sovereign nation does not arrange his schedule by the comings and goings of far left trash, toots. Check your privilege.

Posted on 9/12/18 | 10:35 PM CET

Ioul Knep

Mr. Juncker leaves a disastrous legacy.
His Commission splitted the EU, nepotism, lack of vision, all subjects of lobbying, the real causes of this shabby governance.
Europe deserved and still deserves better.
“Lille Soros ” and others like “Bilderberg’s adepts” will drive the EU and the whole world against the wall. My personal opinion!